I’ve been meaning to make a Pagoda-sleeved Mid-Victorian for a while and had bought this hot pink plaid poly taffeta for it years ago. I had seen a bright plaid Victorian dress in the movie Desperate Romantics and had fallen in love with it. It also shows up in North and South. Mine wasn’t a recreation of this gown but inspired by it’s vibrant plaid. It was great to finally make it. I used Past Patterns’ #700 Fashionable Skirt and #702 Dart-fitted Bodice as my patterns. The fit went together relatively well though I found some of the instructions a bit confusing.

I made some folded grosgrain ribbon black trim for the shoulders and used some black braid piping on the sleeves and waistline. The white collar was tatted by my grandmother a long time ago and I was glad to have an excuse to use one of them on one of my costumes. The bonnet was made for me as a gift from my friend Judy and I borrowed the hoop from my friend Annie. The reticule was made by me from scratch and stash items. I made a Lover’s Eye by putting a photograph of my husband’s eye through a canvas app filter and then printing and applying it to a brooch. I also made a Love Token brooch with my daughters’ initials on it.